Guide structure for manipulating drill pipe or the like during drilling of earth bores



United States Patent William Guier 3100 E. 71st. St., Tulsa, Oklahoma 74105 748,048

July 26, 1968 Oct. 13, 1970 inventor AppkNo. Filed Patented GUIDE STRUCTURE FOR MANIPL'LATING DRILL PIPE OR THE LIKE DURING DRILLING OF EARTH BORES 2 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl .1 214/25, 214/1, 294/655 [51] lnt.Cl E211) 19/00 [50] Field ofSearch 214/151, 2.5, 1, H8513, 1(B)3(Para1le1 Link Digest); 193/40 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,083.341 1/1914 Sousae et a1. 214/2 .5X

3/1930 Gidley vvvvv 214/15 1,900,921 3/1933 Endsley 214/15 2,162,653 6/1939 Umphres 214/15 2,470,279 5/1949 Whited 214/15 2,785,807 3/1957 Prowinsky ..214/(Parallel Link Digest) 2,881,929 4/1959 Giffen Zl4/l(BS3)UX 3,177,944 4/1965 Knights Z14/2.5X

Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assislanl Examiner-Frank E. Werner Atl0rneyArthur L. Wade ABSTRACT: A pivoted arm is mounted on the drilling floor of an oil well and pivoted through an are by power means to move drill pipe and the like laterally of the well bore and index one string of pipe to another for threading the sections together.

Patented Oct. 13, W70

Sheet 1 016 X E 7 2 & m 0 2 m Z Y w 7 a 5 9. s

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INVENTOR WILLIAM GU/ER Patented Oct. 13, 1970 Sheet /NVEN7'OR W/L LIA M GU/ER Sheet INVENTOR W/L L IAM GU/ER Sheet lNVENTOFr WILL/AM GU/ER Patented Oct. 13, 1970 Sheet 6 016 GL'IDE STRUCTURE FOR MANIPULATING DRILL PIPE OR THE LIKE DURING DRILLING OF EARTH BORES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention'relates to vertically guiding and laterally moving the tubular structures inserted in and removed from the bore of an earth drilling operation. More particularly, the invention relates to a structure which indexes and guides drill pipe, casing. collars, etc, as they are vertically lowered and raised within the bore and which supplies force in moving these elongated elements to a rack area for storage.

2. Description of the Prior Art The manipulation of drill pipe. casing, collars, etc. in drilling earth bore holes has been traditionally carried out manually. The drawworks, or hoist, lifts and lowers the pipe section within the bore, but lateral movement is controlled by the manual manipulation of one or more personnel termed The work of the roughneck has been dirty, dangerous and arduous. Further, the threads through which sections of pipe are joined have been damaged by inaccurate stabbing and cross-threading. With the advent of off-shore drilling, these problems have been multiplied by the instability of the floating base for drilling equipment.

The manual manipulation of drill pipe needs a backup system to reduce the number of personnel required. Further, the support must be in the form of mechanical mechanisms which can be operated to more efficiently guide and position the pipe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention is to mechanically manipulate drill pipe and the like in the stabbing operations of drilling an earth bore.

Another object is to mechanically guide drill pipe and the like while it is being vertically moved by the drawworks.

Another object is to mechanically move drill pipe and the like about the drilling floor while it is held suspended by the drawworks.

The present invention contemplates a pivoted elongated arm member. The arm is pivoted at one ofits ends from a location which is established adjacent the well bore. The free end of the arm traces an are including the back of the well center, the well bore, the front of the rotary table, the mousehole and rack area.

The invention contemplates the free end of the arm having a configuration which partially captures the pipe it guides in providing the pipe 21 positive index for vertical positioning ofthe pipe over the well bore, over another section of pipe in the mousehole or within a rack area where the pipe is stored.

The invention also contemplates the arm being powered by a motive means which is controlled by one man as compared to the plurality of personnel presently required to manipulate drill pipe or the like.

The invention also contemplates the arm having magnetic devices connected to it to provide additional holding force for the elongated members as the arm positively guides the member.

The invention also contemplates the employment of a plurality of arms to supply additional stability to the long, heavy length of the guided member, particularly in off-shore operations.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon consideration of the written specification, appended claims, and attached drawing, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic isometric view of a site for forming an earth bore with structure actuating a powered guide arm embodying the invention;

FIGS. 2-4 are plan views of the structure of FIG. 1 performing specific functions;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are elevations of the powered guide arm mounted on a tong;

FIGS. 7l0 are plan views ofa powered guide arm with an adjustable limit for the swing of the arm in one direction;

FIG. 1 I is an isometric view ofa bore site with a plurality of powered guide arms: and

FIG. 12 is a partially sectioned isometric view ofa fragment of the upper guide arm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose the more simple form of the preferred embodiment. The drilling floor l ofa rig is indicated as a horizontal area. Rotary table 2 is central of this floor and is shown with ajoint of drill pipe 3 protruding through it, held by slips 4. Kelly bar 5 is suspended from drawworks, not shown. through a crown block, also not shown. Kelly bar 5 is positioned directly above joint 3 as having been broken from joint 3. The tongs for breaking off thejoint are also not shown.

Mousehole structure 6 is shown as laterally removed from table 2. This structure is essentially a socket. sleeve, or boot, in which ajoint of pipe 7 is placed to awaittransfer to the well bore. Pipe 7 is similar to joint 3 with a box 8 similar to box 9 of joint 3. The lower end, or pin, of pipe 7 has threads which will make up to the threads of box 9.

The structures disclosed to this point are conventional and their functions are well known. Kelly 5, shown as having been unthreaded from pipe joint 9, is ready to move toward pipe joint 7 in mousehole 6. When kelly 5 is swung into position abovejoint 7 it will be lowered until its male threads 10 are engaged with the female threads of box 8. Stabbed into the box 8, kelly 5 will be rotated to complete the makeup bt-tween the two members. The drawworks will then pull the kell 1 and connected pipe joint up to clear the mousehole so they may be swung into position over the well bore. The lower pin of drill pipe 7 is then stabbed into box 9 and made up in the usual manner. This sequence of events is well known to the drilling art.

When coming out of the hole with drill pipe, the upperjoint, or joints, broken off are stacked in 'a specific area. This area is indicated at 11. Various forms of support structure may be placed at 11 to hold the drill pipe in storage. This support structure would be an unnecessary detail in this disclosure. For the purpose of disclosing this invention, it is only necessary to indicate the storage as an area 11 adjacent the well bore and an extension of the drilling floor 1. The longitudinal members going into the bore of the well, or coming out of the bore, are carried laterally between area 11 and the bore.

The drawworks lifts and lowers the drill pipe, casing, collars, etc. However, the present practice is to station several roughnecks on the drilling floor to swing the members laterally into the various positions and guide the members as they are lowered and raised in the drilling operation. Great strength, skill and cooperation are required by the team of roughnecks in carrying out the dangerous and demanding functions. A great sense of pride is developed in this teamwork. However, accidents have accumulated in a steady stream with a range of injuries up to inevitable fatalities. Additionally, the speed of the overall operation is limited by these manual functions. The present invention provides a structure with which is made a great leap forward in safety and efficiency within the drilling operation. Further, the more efficient and faster operations can be carried out with less personnel. It is quite possible that a single man on the drilling floor can carry out the functions of two or more such men using present techniques.

' Essentially, the present invention provides an elongated arm member I5 pivoted by end 16 from a bracket 17 which is mounted a spaced distance from the well bore. The opposite, or outer, end 18 has an extension portion 19 extending at an angle to the axis of the arm 15. As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, this angle vertically registers with the wellbore. Arm 15 thus becomes a guide for any elongated member inserted into, or withdrawn from, the well bore. Any of these elongated members, suspended from the crown block of the drilling rig will align with the well bore. If swung from the mousehole. or rack area 11, the elongated member will contact the arm and move within the angle formed by extension 19 and 15. Thus partially captive within this structure, the member will be registered positively with the bore and any elongated member extending up from it,

The static indexing and guiding function of arm 15 is supplemented by the function of the arm to apply a lateral force to drill pipe, casing, collars, etc. which it is desired to move from over the bore to positions such as the mousehole and rack area. The present practice is, of course, to provide personnel to apply this force manually. However, arm 15 is powered to pivot from bracket 17 and provide a greater, and more positive, force.

Bracket 17 is disclosed as a laterally extended member pivoted from a vertical column 20. Column 20 is mounted in any of a number of suitable arrangements to provide dimensional stability relative to the bore. It will be subsequently disclosed how this column may be mounted on automatic tongs. the tongs themselves being mounted on a column. Whatever the specific arrangement for mounting bracket 17, the struc- I ture forms a pivot point for end 16 of arm 15. A simple pin 21 is disclosed as extending through hole 22 or hole 23 in the bracket.

A motive means to position arm 15 about its bracket pivot is disclosed as a fluid powered cylinder-piston 24. Cylinder 24C is shown pivoted from bracket 17 at a point 25 spaced a finite distance from holes 21 and 22 and close to post 20. Piston 24P is pivoted from arm 15 at point 26 which is located toward the middle of arm 15. Obviously control of the extension and retraction of piston 24F in cylinder 24C will control the arm through the are which is traversed by the free end 18 of arm 15. This control is represented by a source of fluid at 27 being selectively directed by valve 28 to each side of piston 24F.

The geometrical relationship between the length of the stroke of piston 24F and the location of the various pivots on arm 26 and bracket 17 will establish the are through which arm 15 will be pivoted. It is desirable for arm 15 to be carried back, out of the way of other tools at the bore, so the backward limit of the arc is indicated by position 29. From the position 29, the arm is arranged to pivot forward and include passing over the bore, to the mousehole and to the racking area. The forward limit of the arc of the arm is indicated by position 30.

The invention contemplates a need to adjust the arm 15 vertically. The arm pivots in a horizontal plane, but different elevations may be required of the arm as it forms a positive index for members requiring registration with the well bore. Also, it may be desirable to apply the positioning at different elevations to more effectively transfer the members between the bore and the mousehole or rack.

Bracket 17 is arranged to slide vertically up and down column 20 while linked to column 20 through key 31. Of course, the bracket 17 and attached arm 15 and power cylinder-piston 24 are heavy. Therefore, a simple counterweight system is disclosed in the form of weight 32, line 33 and pulleys 34. The counterweight combination is readily arranged as disclosed in FIG. 1, so if the box of a pipe joint should move vertically and engage the arm, the combination will readily move vertically along the key 31 without injury to the mechanism.

RACKING DRILL COLLARS FIGS. 3 and 4 disclose the unique flexibility of the invention in meeting the problem of storing drill collars. These thickwalled tubular members function down hole as drill pipe. They are much heavier than regular drill pipe and therefore are difficult to move about the racking area 11. The lighter drill pipe can be muscled into their final positions on the rack structure, particularly when the final manual manipulation has been preceded by the kick from the powered arm 15. The massive drill collars are a more difficult problem.

The powered arm 15 can move each suspended collar toward the rack area, but the collar must be slowly rolled along the length of arm 15 to its final storage location. It would be most unwise to set the large mass of any one of these collars into motion and depend upon manual force alone to guide it to the final storage location.

Fortunately, the drill collars are the last of the drill pipe to be racked on a trip out of the well bore and the first to be unracked on a trip into the well bore. Therefore, the collars can be stacked in one or more rows within the rack area 11 close to the rotary table. Arm 15 can be positioned precisely, relative to this area 11 and form a positive guide for each collar to its final position in the rack.

FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose the arm 15 with pivot pin 21 placed in hole 23. The geometry of this arrangement enables the arm 15 to function by guiding joints of drill pipe to and from the rack area 11, to and from the mousehole 6 and to and from the bore beneath the rotary table 2. When the drill collars 35 are to be stacked, the position of arm 15 with its pin 21 in bracket hole 22 precisely positions arm 15 to align collars 35 in row 36 along the upper portion of storage area 11. After the formation of row 36, a row 37 is formed as disclosed by FIG. 4. Arm end 16 has its pin 21 positioned in hole 22. Arm 15 is thereby precisely positioned to form row 36 directly behind row 37.

ALTERNATE MOUNTING FIGS. 5 and 6 disclose how the arm 15 may be mounted directly on other equipment at the well. There are several designs of available tongs. The outline of one such design is indicated at 40.

Tongs 40 are generally a substantial, large mechanism which is used to make up kelly bar 41 to pipe joint 42. This tong structure may also include a spinner mechanism. All of this comparatively massive structure is pivoted from a column 43 which is mounted near the drilling floor.

The need to counterbalance the heavy tong structure 40 is obvious. Evidence of this counterbalance mechanism is indicated by line 44. The counterweight is not shown, but how such counterbalance mechanism is arranged is evident from the weight 32, line 33 and pulleys 34 previously disclosed in FIG. 1. Properly counterbalanced tongs 40 may be readily raised or lowered along vertical column 43 to the position required to grip the kelly bar, pipe, casing, collars, etc. to rotate the structure in the make-up operations.

The object of the disclosure is to demonstrate that arm 15 may be mounted on a column 45 as readily as on column 20 in FIGS. 1-4. Column 45 is mounted directly on the housing of tongs 40 to make the tongs and arm an integrated package with which to move and position the pipe, casing, collars, etc. about the well to carry out the objects of the invention.

Arm 15 is pivoted from bracket 17 by the piston-cylinder 24 to carry out the same objects in FIGS. 5 and 6 as carried out in FIGS. l4. The difference is that arm 15 is mounted on column 45 which is mounted on the housing of the tongs. However, the consolidation in bringing the two devices to a common mounting does not limit the original functions of the arm. Arm 15 is simply provided this alternate mounting.

INDEX OF VARIOUS PIPE DIAMETERS FIGS. 7l0 are offered to disclose structure which will selectively limit the travel of the powered arm as it pivots to a position behind the bore. It is an object ofthe invention to give effective registration of the length of drill pipe, casing, or the like, being stabbed into a similar length held by slips in the bore. These elongated members have various diameters. Therefore, the angle formed by the main portion of the arm and the extension formed at the outward end of the arm must be adjusted to give the desired registration.

FIGS. 7 and 8 disclose the basic structure to carry out this object of the invention. A drilling floor 50 has a rotary table 51 over the bore.

Arm S3 is powered in travel of its are by piston-cylinder 55. 7

Details of the source of fluid power for the piston-cylinder 55 are not shown. The manual control of the power is indicated as conveniently mounted on the extension 54 at 56. Valve 56 is essentially a simple means to select the side of the piston which will receive power fluid to move the piston relative the cylinder and thereby regulate the length of the piston-cylinder combination. Mounting valve 56 on extension 54 makes it convenient for the roughneck on the drilling floor to select when arm 53 is to be moved from one position to another.

Arm 53 is pivoted at 57 or 58 on bracket '59. Bracket 59 is mounted on column 60. Piston-cylinder 55 is connected between the bracket 59 at 61 and the arm 53 at 62. This arrangement of bracket, column, piston-cylinder and arm is similar to the arrangement of FIGS. l6 for actuation of arm 15. FIGS. 7-10 are to disclose how to selectively limit how much piston-cylinder 55 may be shortened in pivoting arm 53 from point 57 in the rearward swing of the arm.

Basically the limit of retraction, or shortening, is established through an abutment extended from arm 53. This abutment structure is mounted on bracket 63 which is, in turn, mounted on arm 53. A cam 64 is arranged on the bracket to present its edge to the end of the cylinder. The cylinder end is effectively established by the head of cap screw 65 on the end of the cylinder and when 64 and 65 engage the piston-cylinder has reached the end of its travel to shorten the distance between 61 and 62.

Cam 64 is mounted to rotate on its mounting. The cam is cut eccentric with its center of rotation so the engagement is made at selected distances along the travel of piston-cylinder 55. Cam 64 is mounted on bracket 66 which bracket is pivoted on bracket 63. Handle 67 rotates cam 64 in a plane parallel to the axis of the piston-cylinder S and handle 68 rotates bracket 66 in a plane at a right angle to the first plane. Therefore, cam 64 is carried into alignment with nut 65 by handle 68 and handle 67 rotates cam 64 to set the position to which the piston-cylinder 55 is retracted. FIG. 8 is useful to show the eccentricity of cam 64. Numbers on the face of the cam disclose one way to correlate the cam edge-abutment with the pipe size.

When a string of pipe is swung from the mousehole, it is desirable to have a mechanical limitation to the backward swing of arm 53. The backward limitation gives a fairly precise guide to the pipe as it nestles in the crook of arm 53 formed by extension 54. Of course, the registration will not be precise, simply swing arm 53 from pivot point 57 to various limits set by cam 64. However, the registration will be close enough to greatly increase the accuracy of makeup between pipe lengths. Stabbing accuracy is increased, cross threading is eliminated, speed of makeup is increased and all of this is accomplished with less personnel than presently required.

As with all things mechanical, there are always alternate arrangements to accomplish a specific objective. Simplification and rearrangement of the structure disclosed in FIGS. 7-10 is possible. However, the basic concept of providing a preselected abutment for the back swing of arm 53 is fundamental. A wide range of mechanical equivalents to the disclosure of these drawings will fall within the scope of this present invention.

FIGS. 9 and disclose the complete range of motion of arm 53. FIG. 9 shows the arm 53 in its forward position as it aligns collars, or drill pipe, 52 within the storage area. Cam 64 can be seen to have moved away from abutment 65. However, the two remain aligned for contact when arm 53 is again pivoted backwards.

FIG. 10 illustrates how handle 68 is employed to pivot cam 64 on bracket 63 upward, out of alignment with abutment 65. This removal of cam 64 will permit further shortening of piston-cylinder 55 to swing arm 53 clear of elevators, kelly bushing, or other tools traveling vertically over the bore. This clearance is necessary to the full scope of drilling operations,

and cam 64 is readily removed to the position shown in FIG. 10 for this purpose.

' PLURAL ARMS The final series of drawing disclosures demonstrate how the invention can be extended to provide a greater degree of stability to the kelly, drill pipe, collars, etc. raised and lowered in the bore. Greater insurance stability is generally required on off-shore drilling rigs where the floating base is subject to waveaction. The pivoted arm gains in value on off-shore rigs. More than one arm to steady, guide and index a longitudinal member becomes highly desirable.

FIG. 11 show the now familiar drilling floor 70, rotary table 71 and joint of drill pipe 72 held by slips 73. Also, kelly bar 74 ,is positioned directly above the pipe 72, suspended from drawworks.

Mousehole 75 has ajoint ofpipe 76 therein. The makeup of the pipe through tapered threads in pin and box are understood from earlier disclosure. Details of the rack of the storage area are dispensed with in this drawing to give emphasis to the plurality of pivoted arms used to guide, position, index and move the pipe and kelly bar. Also no tong structure is depicted for the same reason.

Arm 77 has its bracket 78 supported from column 79. The

system of fluid power to drive this arm is not shown but its control is through handle 80. The outline of a roughneck 81 is indicated to illustrate how this floorman can readily control the pivoting of arm 77 to carry out its function. I Above arm 77 is shown a second arm 82 mounted to pivot in a plane parallel to the plane lower arm 77 pivots in. A bracket structure 83 is shown in basic support of the second arm. Power to pivot the arm is indicated as available through piston-cylinder 84.

The outer end 85 of arm 82 is extended at an angle to the main' body of arm 82. This angle is similar to the lower angle of arm 77 and is vertically aligned with it. Therefore, arm 82 becomes a second means with which to contact kelly bar 74, or other member, suspended by the drawworks. Together the arms 77 and 82 become a plurality of means with which to control elongated members inserted into, or withdrawn from,

the bore.

Upper guide arm 82 is not generally required to apply transporting force to members such as kelly bar 74. This is one of the basic functions of lower arm 77. The power to move arm 82 with piston-cylinder 84 can be controlled through lever 80, although this system is not specifically shown. It may be satisfactory for arm 82 to function somewhat statically as an intermediate contact member for kelly 74. If so, some resiliency could be desirable to produce a yielding force that urges I the kelly, or other members, into alignment with the bore.

The outward portion 86 of arm 82 is shown pivoted at 87 from the inward portion of arm 82. Any number of spring arrangements, not specifically shown here, could be incorporated in the arm 82 to urge portion 86 to the position disclosed in FIG. 11. However, the portion 86 can be pivoted to the rear as indicated by the arrow near the pivot when forced by the kelly moving at that point. The spring then continually urges the kelly to return to the position shown in FIG. 1 1.

Another feature of arm 82 is depicted with FIG. 12. Arm 82 can be made in various ways; it can be a solid bar or it can be built up from plates bolted together. In FIG. 12, the bolted plate technique is indicated to more readily incorporate a magnetic structure.

Magnets 88, 89 can be mounted in faces 90, 91 of the arm to attract the metallic kelly bar, or otherelongated members. The magnets 87, 88 can be mounted in nonmagnetic material 92 which is, in turn, bolted into the arm 82. Thus the faces of the magnets are arranged to be directed toward a metallic kelly, or pipe, and develop a degree of magnetic attraction which will urge the member to seat within the angle formed by arm portion and the basic arm 82.

it should be evident that permanent magnets 88, 89 could be replaced by electromagnets and controlled by manual means available to the personnel 81. Also, these magnetic structures could be employed in lower arm 77 if needed to nest the kelly more positively within the angle of arm 77.

CONCLUSION The invention meets a long standing need of the drilling industry for better control of the elongated structures lowered and raised within earth bores. A finite step toward automation of drilling is provided. The embodiment is one easily accepted in drilling practices because the arm is a readily appreciated supplement to the arm of the roughneck. The more powerful mechanical arm is quickly perceived as an extension of his own arm.

Further, the arm is provided with a means to positively index its position which is obviously better than the pushing and pulling now required of the floor man on the drilling rig.

Finally, the arm has been disclosed as counterweighted to facilitate manual vertical positioning Additionally, it is evident that the arm can be powered to move vertically. For example, in FIG. 1 a power cylinder-piston could be connected between bracket 17 and drilling floor l and controlled in applying positive power to elevate and lower arm as desired. Similar arrangements could be provided on the other embodiments disclosed.

I From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the ac- 8 companying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A positioning system for tubular structures inserted in and removed from an oil well bore, including, a vertically extended pivot post mounted adjacent a well bore, a bracket mounted on the post so it can slide vertically on the post, an elongated arm member pivoted from a first point on the bracket in positioning tubular structures near the well bore, a magnet structure mounted on the arm member to exert an attractive force between the arm and tubular structures, and a power structure connected to the bracket between a second point which is on the bracket and a third point which is on the arm member and located at a predetermined distance from the first point which is on the arm. whereby the power structure is actuated to vary the distance between the second and third points and exert a force on the arm which will pivot the arm about the first point on the bracket to contact and position tubular structures.

2. A positioning system for tubular structures inserted in and removed from an oil well bore, including, a vertically extended column mounted adjacent a well bore, a bracket mounted on the column to extend in a horizontal plane, an elongated arm member pivoted from one of two points on the bracket, a piston and cylinder which are supplied power fluid connected to the arm member so as to pivot the arm from one of the two points selected on the bracket, whereby the tubular structures positioned by the arm are stacked in a storage area in one row when the arm is pivoted from one bracket point and in a second row parallel to the first row when the arm is pivoted from the other bracket point. 

